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Iraqis may be blocked from entering
Britain or the United States
10.1.2007
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January 10, 2007
Iraqis facing passport shortage
A crisis over passports means many Iraqis may now be
blocked from entering Britain or the United States.
The country is experiencing a shortage of passports
after Britain and the US withdrew recognition from
many Iraqi travel documents over security fears.
The government is issuing replacements but they are
only available in Baghdad, and in limited numbers.
The move is affecting thousands of Iraqis living
abroad. Many will not be able to travel to Britain
or the US. |
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Invalid passports
The Iraqi government recently decided to invalidate
passports issued during Saddam Hussein's rule.
The problem is particularly bad for the hundreds of
thousands of Iraqis who have fled to neighbouring
countries and who hope to move to Britain or the US.
Jordan, for example, is home to thousands of Iraqis
who have fled the violence in their country.
The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Amman, says that many of
them would like to travel on to Britain or the US
but a large number have suddenly found their
passports are no longer valid.
One Iraqi businessman said he had been called a few
days ago by the US embassy in Amman and told that
visas issued for a delegation of Iraqi businessmen
planning to travel to the US were no longer valid.
The news comes just before US President George W
Bush was about to announce a series of measures
designed to stimulate Iraqi business.
BBC
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